NASA decided to use three contractors instead of two for CRS-2, with Sierra Nevada's Despite the higher costs for CRS-2, NASA had no regrets about using private companies for ISS resupply missions. Huge video game companies are exposing Apple's iOS hypocrisy Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) are a series of flights awarded by NASA for the delivery of cargo and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) on commercially operated spacecraft. The vehicle is under constant monitoring by the dedicated ATV Control Centre in Toulouse, France.Located within the premises of the French Space Agency CNES, the ATV Control Centre will ensure flight control throughout the mission in coordination with the ISS mission control centres in Moscow and Houston. Orbital ATK, Sierra Nevada, and SpaceX were awarded CRS-2 contracts in January 2016 with initial task orders awarded in June 2016. The Japanese HTV (H-II Transfer Vehicle) will also soon join the scene. About three times larger than its Russian counterpart, it can also deliver about three times more cargo.The ATV is also the very first spacecraft in the world designed to conduct automated docking in full compliance with the very tight safety constraints imposed by human spaceflight operations. This will be vital to ensure the system's overall robustness and reliability.“Last month, with the docking of Columbus, Europe got its own flat in the ISS building, with the launch of the first ATV, we now have our own delivery truck” said Daniel Sacotte, ESA’s Director for Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration. In future, it is planned to use it on Soyuz manned spacecraft, which currently fly to the ISS via a fast six-hour (four-turn) flightpath.We are committed to protecting your personal information and we have updated our Privacy Policy to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a new EU regulation that went into effect on May 25, 2018.Since you already shared your personal data with us when you created your personal account, to continue using it, please check the box below:If you do not want us to continue processing your data, please If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy, please contact us at: The fact of registration and authorization of users on Sputnik websites via users’ account or accounts on social networks indicates acceptance of these rules.Users are obliged abide by national and international laws. With both ESA’s ATV and Russia’s Progress, the ISS will be able to rely on two independent servicing systems to ensure its operations after the retirement of the US space shuttle in 2010. During the coming weeks, it will manoeuvre in order to rendezvous and eventually dock with the ISS to deliver cargo, propellant, water and oxygen to the orbital outpost.Lift-off occurred at 05:03 CET (01:03 local) from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. US: Adding another milestone to its drive to bring down flight cost, SpaceX launched its first recycled cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceX's launch price was considerably cheaper than its rival-- $152.1 million per mission versus $262.6 million. The best USB Wi-Fi adapters The best outdoor speakers Carrying four tons of supplies, water, spare parts and experiment hardware for the Expedition 63 crew aboard the International Space Station, HTV-9 launched from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on Wednesday, May 20 at 1:31 p.m. EDT (2:31 a.m. Thursday, May 21, Japan time). Apple is reportedly planning 'Apple One' subscription bundles How to buy a laptop for your kid (or revive an old one) August 10, 2020.